Boricua" goes back centuries. The island was called Boriken by the native Taínos. "Boricua" was derived from Boriken - most likely coined by early colonial Spaniards. All those names Boricua, Borinquen, Borincano, Borinqueño - are very old Puerto Rican terminology found in old Puerto Rican history books, and poems that are over 200 years old, etc. If you have not studied in Puerto Rico and read these words in our own Spanish literature (in school textbooks) and native poems then you might think of them as "foreign" but they are not. You are right they are not "proper" Castellano, but only Spaniards speak "proper" Castellano. These terms are actually "criollo" - developed in the island. They are true Puerto Rican terminology.)

Not every Boricua is a Puerto Rican. In order to be clasified as a Boricua you should have very special and particular characteristics as a puertorican.(CSR)

(n) Appellation many Puerto Ricans prefer as a matter of ethnic pride. “Boricua” was the name Puerto Rico’s indigenous Indians, the Taino, gave to their island. The term means “valiant people.” (The Puerto Rican national anthem is "La Borinqueña." Other spellings are: Boriquén, Borinquen, or Borinquén).

Boricua College is a non-traditional four year institution started in New York in 1973. The college has 1200 mostly low income students on its campuses in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Another name for a puertorican person. The name comes from the Taino Indian name for Puerto Rico; Boriken, with accent on the "e". I bought a book called LA LENGUA BORICUA; it is THEE!!! puertorican (puerto rican) slang dictionary, period!

I'm not kidding; if you want to learn about 2000 terms of puertorican or boricua slang, you must read this book. I got it on amazon.com, but can get also get it on barnesandnoble.com, or borders.com. PA' QUE GOCEN!!!1